Game of skill



Jan. 12, 1943. E. BENGNER 2,308,263

GAME 0? SKILL Fild Dec. a1, 1936 5 sneets-sheet 1 Jan. 12, 1943.

E. BENGNER GAME OF SKILL Filed D60. 31, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet '2 Jan. 12,1943. E. BENGNER 2,308,263

GAME or SKILL Jan. 12, 43.

GAME OF KILL Filed Dec. 31, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 at v #55 Jan. 1 2,1943. E. BENGNE GAME OF SKILL Filed Dec. 31, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WM WIi atented Jan. 12, 1943 GAME OF SKILL Erwin Bengner, Breslau, Germany;vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application December 31, 1936,Serial No. 118,644 In Germany January 2'7, 1936 10 Claims.

This invention relates to a game of skill and particularly one whereinprizes in the form of merchandise may be delivered to the winner andwhich may be used in combination with a coin controlled vending machine.

The object of this invention is to improve the eificiency of games ofskill of this type, by providing such game with a movable carriagehaving a number of prize pockets into which a ball struck as a target bymeans of a striker or hammer can be successively thrown as a result ofwhich different prizes according to the win pocket will be delivered.

Another object of this invention is to provide a game of this type whosemanufacture will be relatively simple, practical and of low cost.

On embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings which constitute part of this specification and in whichsimilar reference characters denote corresponding parts,

Fig. l is a side elevation of the game forming the subject of thisinvention, the cabinet being shown in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section on line IV-IV of Fig. 3 similar to thatof Fig. 1 showing the cabinet and carriage in cross sections;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line IIIIII of Fig. 1 of the device;

Figs. 4-6 show three different positions of a member for operatingmovable impediments in the prize pockets of the carriage forming part ofthis game device; and

Fig. 7 is a rear view of the device with the rear wall of the cabinetremoved showing the coin controlled means for locking and releasing thecarriage, the means for lifting the ball into operative position and themeans for releasing the prize compartment.

Fig. 8 is a. vertical section on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 3 and Fig. 9 isa cross section on IXIX of Fig. '7.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, the (game comprises a casingor cabinet 4 which in its 'upper portion contains a carriage 9 mountedon rails 8, 8 and provided with a plurality of trough shaped elongatedpockets l (Fig. 3) and an initial pocket l0 arranged parallel to theside walls of the cabinet and to one another (Figs. 1, 2 and :3). Thesepockets [0, and I0 are separated from one another by open spaces orpassages 14', I4 14 I4 and I4 and are displaced longitudinally relativeto one another and transversely to the cabinet each by one half thelength of a pocket (Fig. 3). The width of said passages between thedifferent pockets varies, the narrowest one 14' being between the pocketl0 and the adjacent pocket It], thence gradually increasing in thedirection from right to left with reference to Fig. 3. The game alsocomprises a hammer l which is oscillatorily suspended to swing in avertical plane, as will be hereinafter more fully described, so thatwhen operated will be capable of striking a ball admitted to a pocketand located just opposite said hammer. The rails 8 on which the carriageis movably guided extend obliquelyrela tive to the side walls of thecarriage and relative to the plane of oscillation of the hammer.

The free spaces or passages id to I4 inclusive between the differentpockets are closed both in front and rear by upstanding partitions orwalls arranged parallel to themselves and to the striking plane of thehammer. The front, lower partitions l5 extend between adjacent pockets,closing the gaps between the same, and therear higher partitions I6, I6l6 and I6 are each arranged in alignment with and extend over they rearend edges of the corresponding pockets serv-' Thus partition.

ing also as rear walls thereof.

It closes the rear of the opening I4 and that of the pocket farthestapart from hammer I, partition l6 closing the rear of the opening I4 andthat of the next pocket, etc.

'The openings 14', I4 I4 I l and I4 each lead into a ball trap I! whichleads to a gravity actuated lever mechanism 42 indicated in Figures '2,7 and 8, and thence into the ball collecting "channel 5| from where theball after the opera- 7 tion of a coin controlled actuating lever 50will be lifted in well known manner back by a'ball lifter 55 intooperative position in front of the hammer I.

The bottom of each trough shaped pocket Ill, is sloping downwardlytoward the front, each terminating into an opening l2 communicatingthrough a chute or duct 52 with a channel 53fof a corresponding drawer54 containing the prize to be won by the successful player. Qtering saidchannel 53 acts as a coupling element between a pull member 54' and adrawer 54 The ball ento permit the withdrawal of said drawer 54, shownin Figures 1 and 9, as will be hereinafter described.

For feeding the carriage, a lever I8 is provided; which is suitablyfulcrumed as at IE to a stationary part of the cabinet to oscillate in ahori- I zontal plane and project outward through a slot 4a in the frontwall of the cabinet. This lever is adapted to engage a pin 9a or thelike provided on the underface of the'carriage whereby it will a feedthe carriage in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3). The stroke of thelever i8 is limited by the length of the slot to through which itprojects from the wall of the cabinet or the machine. A tension springl9 between the cabinet and said carriage tends to return the latter toits initial position.

or bar 24 which under the action of a tensi on spring 25 normally tendsto move into raised position. This rod 24 has a projection 23 extendingin the path of the nose 2'3 adapted to engage said projection 23 whenthe bar 22 is moved downwardly and thereby move the cooking rod 24downwardly against the tension of its spring 25. The downward movementof bar 22 can be effected by the actuating lever .53 which as here-'inabove described may be coin controlled. The upperend of the rod or bar23 is adapted to bear against a spring actuated member 28- rotativelymounted on a longitudinal shaft 3 extending transversely through thecabinet and one end of which carries a knob 5. Connected to said member26 is one end of arod 2! the other end of which is connected to the pawl2 I. While when the actuating lever 50 is released the rod 22 can returnto its raised position, the depressed rod 24 becomes locked in cockingposition by a spring actuated locking member 23 capable of engaging anaperture 24' thereof and which when released will "permit the cocked rod2 3 under the action of its "spring 25 to shoot upwardly and actingagainst the member 26 turn the latter on the shaft Normally the rod 24acting against member 25, will cause rod 21 to hold the pawl out ofengagement with the carriage-9. But when the rod 2:; is depressed andlocked by locking member 28 the member 23 under its spring force willcause the rod 2! to'pull the pawl 21 into operative position locking thecarriage 9.

The carriage is adapted to remain in locked position until the ball 7drops onto the lever 22 and by gravity causes the release of saidlocking member 28. At that instant the released rod 23 shoots upwardlyand acting on member 25 will turn the latter so that rod 2'l will bringthe pawl 2| into inoperative position.

The ball lifter 55 is actuated from the rod or bar 22, when the latteris moved downwardly through the operation of the coin controlledactuating lever 50, to sweep the ball 1 from the collecting channel intooperative position. A second rod mechanism 29 is suitably connected tothe gravity actuated lever mechanism 42 and also to the push member 33so that when the latter is pushed inwardly the locking member 28 will bereleased from engagement with the rod or bar 24, as a result of whichthe latter will be permitted to return into its raised position tounlock the carriage 3 as hereinabove described. The unlocked carriagewill be permitted to return into initial position under the action ofits spring I9 (Fig. 9).

To prevent the carriage 9 from moving too speedily under the action ofits spring L. the frontedge thereof is formed to a rack 9a with whichmesh gears 3| (Fig. 3) which tend to tard said movement.

Provided on the underside of the carriage 9 and extending on a biasparallel to the direction of movement of said carriage and in alignmentwith the pins I3 is a slidable guide bar 33 which under the action of aspring 32 tends to hold said bar 33 in the initial position shown inFigs. 1 and 4. This bar 33 can be manually operated from the push member39 projecting outwardly from the side of the cabinet. The bar 33 isprovided with notches 34 adapted to engage and support the pins l3slidably bearing in the individual pockets l0, and which by gravity orspring action tend to move downwardly (Figures to 6). The side edges 34of these notches are bevelled. in the direction of the feed movement ofthe carriage 9 and serve as guides for said pins. In the initialposition of said bar 33 and carriage all stop pins l3, except one, arein. the lowered positions engagin the notches .34, while .pin l3 in thepocket nearest theihitial pocket I18 is raised resting on the bar 33,and thus forms an obstruct-ion to prevent the ball TI on being landed in.Said llockethfm droppi throughthe opening l2.v g

If the bar 33 is slightly pushed inwardly by member 31!, the raised pinJ13 slides down he guide 34 into :thecorrespondjng pot oh 34 (Fig. 5),permitting. the :ball 1 to .drop throu h the aperture I2, whence itpasses through a duct :5? into the channel 53 of a drawer 54 containithe prize t be won by the successful plavera here inabove described.When the delivery drawer has been emptied and returned .to its closed position. the ball 1 isallowed t0 droninto the channel 5.! in front of theballlif-ter 5.5, after insertion of another coin can be again actuatedthrou h the rod 22 tolift the :ba l on e mor into the operativeposition,

However. .ifthe winner prefe t ta anoth r chance fora greater state. hshi s h ca r a e from its initial position by .means of the feed lever18.. By said sh f in of the c r ia e re at v to the bar .33. a l pins 1a e l fted i to 0- structing position, as 'hown'in Fig. 6,

The hammer :I :is oscillatorily susppnded by a leaf spring 35 from theshaft 2 horizontally borne in a stationary frame 6. This shaft .2 bylever arms s peratively tonnesto a y p a l s aft ea n-vine"- :th knobThe frame 36, which for practical reasons may be composed of twoseparable sections, ;is provi e its rear fa e w th a horiz n a sk .3(Fig; 7') through which projects the pnd I8 of the feed lever :l-,8.Iihe lengthof the-slot 31 can be regulated by a screw 33 to control thestroke of the lever l8.

Pivoted at33a to the frame 36 ina vertical plane is a double armed lever39 whose lower arm 3% extends over the slot 31 and lies infrqnt of therear end 18 0f the lever 1|;8 (Fig. 7-) while its upper arm carriesa-;pin-40. When this lever I8 is swung its extended end :18 will swingthe lever 33 around its pivot 39a-and cause its-pin aw -to;strikeagainst the arm-6 .of the levers mechanism 6, .61 6? and therebyswing the hammer I in the direction .ofthefullline-position (Fig. 1) andtohold it raised sufiicientl-y-to-permit the upstanding walls 15 .of thecarriage to pass underneathsaid hammer. 'Whenthe feed lever 18 isreleased,-the hammer .I automatically returns-by gravity intolitsinitial position.

To prevent .the hammer .l -f;rom..impedi-ng the return of thecarriage:thesuspensionof the harnmer i from the shaft 2 is such that it canyield transversely to the striking plane of the hammer as indicated bythe dotted lines in Fig. 1, while a spring 4! tends to return it intothe perpendicular position to lie exactly in front of the ball 1 locatedin a pocket H3 or Ill.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

In initial position the carriage 9 is locked by pawl 2! against theinner face of the side wall of the cabinet 4 and all pins 13 except onein pocket I nearest to initial pocket ID are lowered (Fig. 4)

On the insertion of a coin through a slot the actuating lever'5il can beoperated so as to lift a ball .1 from the collector channel into thevisible initial position in the pocket Ill to lie in front of the hammerI. By turning the shaft 3 by means of its knob 5 the hammer I can be.

swung through the medium of the levers 6, 6', and 6 to strike the ballin the direction of the pockets Ill. The object of the game is to landthe ball into the pocket nearest to the initial pocket l0. If the blowexerted on the ball is too strong the latter will miss the pocket, dropinto the ball trap l1 whence it will pass onto lever 42 and by gravityactuate the locking member 28 causing the release of the carriage andthen drop into the collector channel 5!. If the blow is too weak, theball will land into the opening l4 whence it likewise rolls into thecollector 5|.

In both instances the player loses the game.

If he Wishes to try again his skill he must insert a new coin to renderthe machine operative.

If, however, the blow is of the proper strength the ball will be landedinto the pocket It], next to the initial pocket l0 where it will come torest at the raised stop pin [3. The player now can take the prize which,for example, may be merchandise of a certain value, say of the value ofthe inserted coin or coins. This is effected by first operating the pushmember 30 whereby bar 33 is displaced causing the stop pin [3 to belowered (Fig. 5), as heretofore described, as a result of which the ballwill be permitted to drop into the channel 53 in which acting as couplerin well known manner it will permit the withdrawal of drawer 54containing the allotted merchandise. When the drawer is released theball 1 will be permitted to drop into the collecting channel 5| fromwhich upon insertion of a new coin it can be again lifted into operativeposition as aforedescribed.

But the player need not take the prize won by landing the ball into thefirst pocket 10. He has a choice to play the game for a larger stake byattempting to throw the ball from the first win pocket into the adjacentsecond pocket It]. To this end he must first unlock the carriage by pushmember 30 and lever 29, then displace the carriage 9 from its initialrest position in the direction toward the hammer so as to bring the saidwin pocket into the position previously occupied by the initial pocketl0.

This movement of the carriage is effected manually by means of the leverl8, whose rear end [8 acting on lever 39 lifts the hammer l temporarilyto permit upstanding walls I6 oi the carriage to pass. On the release ofthe lever [8 the hammer l by gravity returns into the perpendicularoperative position.

Now, the player, as before, will swing the hammer I through operation ofthe knob 5 in an attempt to land the ball into the second pocket for ahigher stake. If he succeeds he proceeds as before by operating the pushmember 33 to lower pin I3 as a result of which the ball is permitted todrop down through opening 12 into channel 53 of the drawer 54 containingthe higher prize.

In a similar manner the player may choose to try his skill with the nextpocket for a still higher stake, and. afterthat with a farther pocketand so on.

It is evident that the correct striking of the ball becomes moredifficult progressively at each step, because, as already mentioned, thefree spaces I4, I4 I4 I4 and I4 separating the pockets [0 from oneanother become larger at'each step.

I claim:

I. In a game of skill, the combination with a coin controlled machinehaving compartments containing prizes of different value, of astationarily supported manually operable striking element, a ballserving as missile for said element, a manually operable carriagedisplaceable at an angle relative to the striking plane of said elementand having a plurality of prize determining pockets capable of receivingthe ball when projected by said element, said pockets being separated byopen spaces and arranged in a staggered relationship with respect to thestriking plane of said element, a ball collecting channel communicatingwith said open spaces, compartments for holding the prizes, said pocketshaving discharge openings communicating with said different prizecontaining compartments, movable impediments in said pockets to hold theball in the pocket for a successive stroke therefrom into the nextadjacent pocket, means for locking said carriage in position, means forlifting the ball from said ball collecting channel into operativeposition in front of said striking element, means for releasing theprize holding compartments and means for simultaneously operating saidlocking means, and ball lifting means.

2. A game of skill comprising a striking element, a missile for saidelement, a carriage having a plurality of targets for said missilearranged in staggered relationship with respect to the striking plane ofsaid element at successively remoter distances from the striking pointthereof, said carriage being capable of displacement in a directiontoward said element so as to successfully position one of its targets ata time to be in range with the striking plane of said element.

3. A game of skill comprising a striking element, a ball serving asmissile for said element, a carriage having a plurality of pocketsserving as targets to receive said ball, said pockets being arranged instaggered relationship with respect to the striking plane of saidelement at successively remoter distances from the striking 7 pointthereof, said carriage being capable of displacement in a directiontoward said element so as to successfully position one of its pockets ata time to be in range with the striking plane of said element.

4. A game of skill according to claim 2 in which means are provided forthe stepwise displacement of said carriage.

5. A game of skill according to claim 2 in which a said targets areseparated by open spaces and there are provided a missile collectorbelow said open spaces and means for returning said missile from saidcollector into operative position in front of said striking element.

6-. A game of skill according to claim 3 in which are provided moveableimpediments in said pockets capable of retaining the ball in a pocketfor a successive stroke therefrom into the next adjacent pocket.

7. A game of skill according to claim 2 in which 9. A game of skillaccording to claim 2 in which 10 are provided means for causing theautomatic locking of said carriage in adjusted position and means forunlocking the same prior to its displacement.

10. A game of skill comprising a striking elel5 ment, a missile for saidelement, a. displaceable carriage having a plurality of pockets capable01' receiving said missile, said pockets being arranged in staggeredrelationship with respect to said element, and separated at successivelyremoter distances from one another by open spaces, moveable impedimentsin said pockets to retain the missile in a pocket for a successivestroke therefrom into the next adjacent pocket, meansfor the stepwisedisplacement of said carriage with respect to the striking plane of saidelement, means for locking said carriage in adjusted position and meansfor the simultaneous operation of said impediments and said lockingmeans.

' ERWIN BENGNER.

